AUSTRALIAN CABINET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1943, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CABINET

NEW MEMBERS CHOSEN

Rec. 9 a.m. CANBERRA, Sept. 19. All the retiring Ministers, with the exception of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Lawson, were re-elected in the Labour caucus ballot for the new Ministry today. Mr. A. A. Calwell (Victoria) will fill Mr. Lavteon's place. Portfolios will be allotted by Mr. Curtin tomorrow and the new Ministry will then be sworn in.

Mr. Curtin was elected Prime Minister and Mr. F. M. Forde Deputy Prime Minister, both unanimously. Other members of the new- Cabinet ~ are Messrs. Chifley, Beasley, Ward, Makin, Holloway, Drakeford, Scully,, Dedman, Fraser, i Lazzarini, Evatt, Frost, , and Calwell, and Senators Keane, Ashley, Cameron, and Collings., Mr. Ward; who was suspended by Mr. Curtin shortly before the old Parliament dissolved because of his charges about a missing document connected with the Brisbane Line, was elected on the first count, but he will not assume a Ministerial position until Parliament has had an opportunity of considering the findings of the Royal Commission whicti inquired into his charges and found them unproven.

Even if the House approves of ; Mr. Ward's reinstatement, and there is little doubt that it will, it does not necessarily mean that Mr. Ward will again be allotted his former portfolio of Labour.

The newcomer, Mr. Calwell, is one of the most powerful men in the Vlctoi'ian Labour movement. He has lately been a consistent critic of Mr, Curtin, particularly over the extension of the area in which the militia, can serve.